Art Garfunkel - Bright Eyes Lyrics | SongMeanings Art Garfunkel Bright Eyes is found on the album Fate for Breakfast . Found on more albums: Best of Art Garfunkel [Germany] The Very Best of Art Garfunkel The Art Garfunkel Album Is it a kind of a dream Floating out on the tide Following the river of death downstream Oh, is it a dream? There's a fog along the horizon A strange glow in the sky And nobody seems to know where it goes And what does it mean? Oh, is it a dream? Bright eyes, burning like fire Bright eyes, how can you close and fail? How can the light that burned so brightly Suddenly burn so pale? Is it a kind of a shadow Reaching into the night Wandering over the hills unseen Or is it a dream? There's a high wind in the trees A cold sound in the air And nobody ever knows when you go And where do you start? Oh, into the dark Bright eyes, burning like fire Bright eyes, how can you close and fail? How can the light that burned so brightly Suddenly burn so pale? Bright eyes, burning like fire Bright eyes, how can you close and fail?

How can the light that burned so brightly Suddenly burn so pale? Lyrics submitted by tjordaan , edited by lobo81865 "Bright Eyes" as written by Mike Batt Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC Lyrics powered by LyricFind Oldest First +7 General CommentSpeaking from personal experience, as someone who is having to watch his loved one 'slip away downstream', I think this is one of the best ever songs about death. My wife is so close; her bright eyes, normally so full of life and love, normally glowing with vitality and enjoyment, are now hollow, grey and vacant. I have watched, heartbroken, as she has declined gradually over the last 6 months. Her determination has waned, depression has set in and I know that one day soon her bright eyes will burn no longer. When does it start? Maybe death creeps up on us, ever so gradually, every time we fear it so much that it takes away from our appreciation of life.

When I look at the sadness in my wife's eyes, and no doubt in my own eyes watching her, I see fear - surely far more fear of what may or may not happen when she 'floats out on the tide' than what she will ever feel when it actually does happen. Death is a return to peace and we all know it, but it's not really the fear of death that we are afraid of; it's the attachment to life. It's so hard to let go, especially when most of us spend our whole lives in a mental struggle for survival, always trying to build more security...like we can ever hope to cheat death and live forever! The harder we try to survive and improve our lives, the more we underline and reaffirm our own subconscious fear of death, which in the end always catches up with us on our death beds. If you want my advice, spend as much time as you can contemplating your own death (like the Tibetan Buddhists do). It's not morbid, it's liberating; only the soul that is at one with death can truly appreciate life without being held back by fear. This song is one of the best ways of beginning that journey.

If you listen to it and feel a tightness in your chest, like a star inside trying to burn its way out of you...if you weep with sadness at the absurdity and unfairness of life and the futility of it all...if this song moves you to the very core of your being and you yearn to release your passion, yet at the same time you can't stop yourself pressing the repeat button and playing it over and over again... If you have ever loved somebody more than you even love yourself, and more than life itself... ??? If that is you, take a deep breath my friend. You are the type who will feel your loved one all around you, within and without you, for the rest of your life. Ever present. In the morning mist and the cool evening breeze, in the winter frost and the autumn leaves. What happens when we die? Where do we go? We go NOWHERE - NOW + HERE - turning and returning to the passive energy of BEING, the background presence that infuses life with its passion - our passion. And if you are the kind of person that is sensitive to that then you are fortunate that you are able to release some of those feelings now, while you are still alive and conscious.

Thank you Watership Down. Thank you Mike Batt and Art Garfunkel. And thank YOU for allowing their expressions to reflect within the mirror of your own soul and in so doing allow life and death to become a little more conscious of each other. xxx Bright Eyes by Art Garfunkel Songfacts Bright Eyes by Art Garfunkel Songfacts Songfacts In 1972 Richard Adams wrote a novel, Watership Down, which told the story of a small group of rabbits that were unhappy in the warren they lived in and decided to break out. The book recounts the rabbits' odyssey as they sought a place in which to establish a new home - a sort of utopian society - encountering perils and temptations along the way. Although thirteen publishers initially rejected the story before it was accepted by Rex Collings Ltd, the book has subsequently never been out of print, and in 1978 an English adventure drama animated film was produced based on the tale. This song written by British singer and songwriter Mike Batt was included in the soundtrack.

Released as a single, it was immensely successful in the United Kingdom, staying at #1 in the British charts for six weeks in 1979, selling over one million copies and becoming the biggest selling single of that year. English singer-songwriter Mike Batt (The Wombles, Katie Melua) desperately wanted to write the score for the animated film, but the work went to Angela Morley (previously known as Wally Stott) and Malcolm Williamson. Mike kept submitting ideas for songs including this tune, which relates to Chief Rabbit Hazel's close shave with death. He recalled in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh that he told the producers Art Garfunkel would be ideal for 'Bright Eyes,' "and within a week, there he was, in my home in Surbiton, singing the song." The song did not impress Richard Adams. Batt recalled in 1000 UK #1 Hits, "I was watching Wogan and he asked Richard Adams what he thought of the film. He said that he hated 'Bright Eyes.' He based his dislike on the assumption that it was wrong factually.

He said it was about a dead rabbit - well, if he reads his own book, he'll realise that the song is sung and thought by Fiver at a time when he thinks Hazel is dead. The point is that the other rabbit thought he was dead." The song reached the top ten in many European charts, topping them in The Netherlands and Ireland. However, it failed to reach the Hot 100 in the US. Art Garfunkel Official Website 1975-1979 Chronology 1975 In September, Art Garfunkel released a new single "I Only Have Eyes For You" backed by "Looking For The Right One." It was an instant hit reaching #18 in the US and #1 in the UK. In October, Art Garfunkel released his second solo album BREAKAWAY (U.S.#9, U.K.#7) to wide acclaim.

The album featured several hits in addition to "I Only Have Eyes For You," including "My Little Town," (a duet with Paul Simon) another top ten hit, "Breakaway" (U.S.#39) with background vocals by David Crosby and Graham Nash, "Looking For The Right One" (a Stephen Bishop tune), "Disney Girls" and "99 Miles From LA." The album also includes a wonderful rendition of Stevie Wonder's classic, "I Believe (When I Fall In Love With You It Will Be Forever)". Larry Knechtel again performs brilliantly on piano. The album was co-produced with Richard Perry, who produced records for Barbra Streisand and Ringo Starr. During one of the recording sessions in May, Elvis (who was recording in a neighboring studio) dropped by to say hello. On the cover of the album, the woman to Art's left is Laurie Bird. Laurie would become very close to Art for several years until her untimely death in 1979. See Breakaway Interview with Art Garfunkel and Richard Perry discussing the evolution of the Breakaway album. The album attained Platinum certification.

In July, Art Garfunkel performed with Paul Simon at the CBS convention in Toronto, Canada. They sang "My Little Town," "The Boxer," "Scarborough Fair," and "Bye, Bye, Love." In October, Art Garfunkel made a 3-day trip to London to record a video for "I Only Have Eyes for You", for Top of the Pops. He was also interviewed for MELODY MAKER magazine from the back seat of a Daimler limousine (accompanied by Laurie Bird whom he met in July). In October, Paul Simon hosted "Saturday Night Live" where he introduced "his friend, Art Garfunkel" to thunderous applause. Paul and Art sang several songs together, including "The Boxer." Art performed a solo of "I Only Have Eyes For You." Paul told Art on the air, "It's good to sing with you again." In November, Paul Simon was performing at New York's Avery Fisher Hall.

Art Garfunkel came on stage at the end of the show and sang several songs with Paul including "My Little Town," "The Sound of Silence," "Scarborough Fair" and "Old Friends." Art also appeared during the encore at Paul's Los Angeles and Berkley, California concerts. Also in the Fall, Art Garfunkel was interviewed by the BBC for a program entitled "My Top Twelve". 1976 In February, Simon & Garfunkel were nominated for another Grammy for Best Vocal Performance by a Group, for "My Little Town." They lost to the Eagles "Lying' Eyes." Songwriter Mike Batt was asked by the producer of the animated film WATERSHIP DOWN, to write a song about death without making it too morbid. The result - "Bright Eyes." Mike Batt had Art Garfunkel in mind when he wrote the song, but he never thought Art would agree. Fortunately for both, Art loved the song and agreed to sing it. During the Spring, Art recorded background vocals for several artists including; Stephen Bishop's CARELESS album, James Taylor's IN THE POCKET album and J.D. Souther's BLACK ROSE album.

In the April 22nd issue of ROLLING STONE Magazine, "country music cutup Kinky Friedman threw a burritos-and-beer bash in his new Hollywood apartment." Among the guest were Art Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Jack Nicholson, Elliott Gould, Dennis Hopper, Roger McGuinn and the Band's Rick Danko and Levon Helm. According to RS, the "high point of the evening came when Kinky, Dylan and Garfunkel serenaded Elliott Gould with a beery rendering of 'People'." (editor's note: Gould was once married to Barbra Streisand) In the June 3rd issue of ROLLING STONE Magazine, there is a picture of Art Garfunkel and Jimmy Webb taken aboard the Magnifico II, a 110-foot yacht with a 24-track studio. Gary Kellgren, a Record Plant executive, made the boat available for recording excursions along the California coast. Joining Webb and Garfunkel on this trip were Harry Nilsson, Sly Stone and Glen Campbell. Beginning in December, and throughout all of 1977, Art would work on his next solo album.

Although he recorded a significant part of the tracks in California, he traveled to Alabama to work with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (who previously worked with Paul Simon), and to Dublin to work with the Irish group, Chieftains. He also recorded a couple of tracks in New York. 1977 Art Garfunkel spent most of the year in California producing his next album (which would not see a world-wide release until 1978). In August, Art released the single, "Crying In My Sleep" (U.K. #25), a Jimmy Webb tune. In October, Art Garfunkel along with Paul Simon go to London to receive the Britannia Music Award for best single in 25 years of pop history -"Bridge Over Troubled Water." In December, Art Garfunkel was the musical guest on NBC's Paul Simon Special, a one hour show of comedy and music. Other guests included Chevy Chase, Charles Grodin and Lily Tomlin. In Woody Allen's film ANNIE HALL, Laurie Bird plays Paul Simon's on-screen girlfriend. Ms. Bird was Art Garfunkel's real life girlfriend. 1978 WATERMARK (U.S.

#19, U.K. #25), Art Garfunkel's third solo album was released in the spring (the album had a limited release in October 1977, without the hit single "(What a)Wonderful World"). With the exception of that hit single, the tracks were all written and composed by Jimmy Webb. Webb wrote Art's first solo single, "All I Know" which was released on the ANGEL CLARE album (1973). "All My Love's Laughter" stood out as a fine example of Jimmy Webb's ability to compose beautiful love songs. The album was really a tribute to Jimmy Webb's exceptional songwriting ability, sensitively interpreted by Art Garfunkel. The album also contained Sam Cooke's "(What a) Wonderful World" (U.S. #1 Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart) sung by Art, Paul Simon and James Taylor and produced by Phil Ramone. The song turned out to be a major hit with the blend of the three singers voices creating a uniquely rich sound. WATERMARK went gold on March 2, 1978 (his third consecutive gold album).

In the April 3, 1978 issue of NEWSWEEK, Tony Schwartz reviewed Art Garfunkel's WATERMARK album. Excerpts follow: Fortified with new material from his latest album, Watermark, he has embarked on a 40-city tour, his first since 1970. Even the cover of his current album bespeaks his new attitude. Garfunkel is pictured reclining in a lounge chair on a sun deck, just a few yards from the ocean (editor's note: this photograph was taken by Laurie Bird). There is a broad smile across his face. "I wanted to come out from the masks, to get away from the shadows, including my own," says Garfunkel. Schwartz continued, "The sunny image is in stark contrast to his former partner's. While Paul Simon continues to write introspective, often despairing songs, Garfunkel has chosen simpler, softer-edged tunes set to luxuriant arrangements. The format highlights what has always been his best quality: an effortlessly lyrical voice that is as smooth and unfettered as any in pop music.

For Watermark, his most graceful album yet, Garfunkel settled largely on tunes by Jimmy Webb, the prolific songwriter known for his lavishly romantic lyrics and lively melodies. It was to the latter that Garfunkel was especially attracted. 'I respond more to notes than to lyrics,' he (Garfunkel) explains. "I'm interested in their richness and power. What I get caught up in is texture and sonority - the sound per se." "Garfunkel makes no apologies for his simple, sentimental style", writes Schwartz. Garfunkel added, 'When I got on my own, I became more selfish. I've been criticized for being too lush, but what that really means is that my leaning is more legato than percussive. I happen to like smooth, connected notes more than choppy, staccato ones. I find some songs too gritty, too sophisticated. My style is to sing bloody, from the heart - and, if I want to work in a palette of red, salmon, pink, orange, rose and bright crimson, then I will. I work a lot on the crafting. It's exhilarating at first and then very painful. I fuss with the dynamics - emptiness vs.

busyness, peaks followed by valleys, tension and then resolve. I get caught up because I think it takes a special love for the music to make it work.' The May, 1978 issue of STEREO REVIEW listed WATERMARK as Album of the Month and published a review in an article entitled, "Garfunkel Sings Webb: A Fusion of Two Major Talents Produces an Album to Be Proud Of." Here are a few excerpts: Art Garfunkel sings eleven Jimmy Webb songs better than anyone else has so far. Garfunkel has exactly the right spare, intelligent vocal style for Webb's intense, deeply felt lyrics and the nonchalant but enormously secure musicianship the elusive music demands. In song after song Art Garfunkel brings to performing completion the work of one of America's best writers of popular music. If there is a single high point in the album it is probably Garfunkel's performance of Webbs' 1972 song "Mr. Shuck 'n' Jive", in which the acid of the lyrics etches a portrait of an angry loser.

Garfunkel manages to infuse Webb's lyrics with a generous compassion that makes sense of, and gives heart to,... the lines. Another fine job is done on "Crying in My Sleep", in which Garfunkel creates the fluorescent light burning at three o'clock in the morning atmosphere of emptiness and futility, all that is left of a burned-out love affair. But it is the fusion of the two major talents, Garfunkel and Webb, in everything that is done here that gives the album its glow. "All My Love's Laughter" and "Watermark", seem to be fresher than anything I've heard all year, and for these alone Garfunkel would deserve a large measure of our gratitude. So, hurray for everybody - Garfunkel, Webb, and most of all, the listener. Watermark is a truly distinguished effort and an album of which everyone involved can be enormously proud. In the May 18th issue of ROLLING STONE Magazine, Rich Wiseman reviewed WATERMARK, wherein he called Art's third solo album his "best solo LP" to date.

Speaking with Wiseman, Jimmy Webb described WATERMARK as 'highly esoteric' before shyly venturing that he considered it a 'major work'." Wiseman continued, Well, the encouraging sales figures would seem to indicate that the album isn't as limited in appeal as Webb may have feared. And that's good, because WATERMARK contains some very worthy pop music. Garfunkel, a longtime admirer of Webb, appreciates these songs and his commitment to them shines through in both his singing and his intelligent production. WATERMARK is at once creamily thick and as light as a soufflé. The uncluttered, subtly textured sound is no small achievement. Watermark cruises from the upbeat dreaminess of 'Saturday Suit' through the moodiness of 'Wooden Planes' to the evergreen coolness of 'She Moved Through the Fair', a traditional Irish folk song. In the Spring, Art Garfunkel began his first major solo tour of the U.S. (50 cities) since his days with Paul Simon. Art felt he finally had enough material from his three solo albums to justify a full concert tour.

Leah Kunkel (sister of Cass Elliott from The Mamas and Papas) joined Art on tour. Leah appears on WATERMARK as well as several later albums. The reviews of the tour were very good. Critics praised Art's performance as both polished and professional. More importantly, Art told reporters, "I'm finding this tour incredibly satisfying." Art closed his U.S. tour at New York's Carnegie Hall. Paul Simon joined Art to sing their 1975 hit "My Little Town." Jimmy Webb also appeared for several songs on piano. THE NEW YORK TIMES wrote of Art's Carnegie Hall appearance: Mr. Garfunkel has become a compelling song stylist and an understated, but remarkably musical vocal technician. He has the rare ability to put a song over with a maximum of feeling, a minimum of fuss and an admirable control of pitch, timbre and phrasing. Columbia Records celebrated Art's successful tour and album with a party at Tavern-on-the-Green in New York's Central Park. On March 11th Art hosted Saturday Night Live, the musical guest was Stephen Bishop. Art Garfunkel and Laurie Bird moved from the West Coast back to New York City.

1979 FATE FOR BREAKFAST , Art Garfunkel's fourth solo album, was released in May (U.S. #67, U.K.#2). It includes the hit single, "Since I Don't Have You" (U.S. #53, U.K. #38). The U.K. album release also included "Bright Eyes," which reached #1 in the U.K. (the single alone sold well over 1 million copies and was Art's second #1 hit in the U.K.). The song was released as a single in the U.S., but did not appear on an album until SCISSORS CUT (1981). The album was beautifully produced by Louis Shelton (with the exception of "Bright Eyes," which was produced by Mike Batt) with several top notch musicians, including Larry Knechtel (who played piano on "Bridge"), Richard Tee (electric piano), Michael Brecker (horns) and Stephen Bishop and Leah Kunkel on vocals.

Stephen Bishop also contributed a song entitled "Sail on a Rainbow." The CD version of FATE FOR BREAKFAST, which was released in the late '80s, includes "Bright Eyes." The covers for the album were photographed by "Saturday Night Live's" Edie Baskin in February depicting the six stages of breakfast (all six covers were used in worldwide distribution of the album). STEREO REVIEW picked the album FATE FOR BREAKFAST as "Best of the Month" in their July, 1979 issue. Excerpts from the article written by Peter Reilly entitled, "Art Garfunkel: Ballad Singer with a Conspiratorial Wink," follow: There are some few performers whose work one almost automatically likes and respects. For instance, I've always liked Art Garfunkel's direct, unpretentious performing manner, and the sly wit I find mixed with a resolute integrity in his recordings inspires respect. I've found him from the first to be much more believable, somehow, both as a person and as a performer, than his one-time partner Paul Simon, and his solo career since the two split up has only reaffirmed that impression.

These ruminations are inspired, of course, by Columbia's recent release of Garfunkel's new FATE FOR BREAKFAST (with its wry afterthought "Doubt for Dessert" on the back cover). It is, of all the weirdly unfashionable things to be these days, an album of ballads...a la Art Garfunkel - which means that the material is first of all carefully selected and then filtered through a distorting lens to produce a slight, but definite, sense of detachment. He sings, for example, in what sounds like a leased contralto, apparently as close to fashionable falsetto as he cares to come, but close enough to suggest a non-serious 'classiness' that is excused by a quick, conspiratorial wink. This is a dynamite album of popular music. Perhaps I can best give you the flavor of the enterprise when I say that Garfunkel's repertoire and performances here relate in a touching way to the flip side of the characters in a Billy Joel song. This is precisely the kind of music they would listen to, savor, and robustly and unselfconsciously identify with, the style they would like to aspire to.

And no doubt I should add that that observation is not intended as any kind of condescension, for this is a legitimate musical style and those are legitimate aspirations. A lot of credit must go here to the sympathetic production Louie Shelton has provided. It is as smooth as yogurt and as sharp as Tabasco. When the going gets Dramatic, as it frequently does in such things as "Beyond the Tears" and "When Someone Doesn't Want You," the arrangements, with their swooping, heavy-beat keyboards and acoustic guitars, let you know that Serious Business is unmistakably afoot. When it turns Inspirational, as in "Sail on a Rainbow," the charts are as creamily homogenized as the Philadelphia string section. Fate for Breakfast is entertaining, enjoyable fun on several levels. Garfunkel doesn't patronize his material; he merely pokes some gentle, affectionate fun at our sentimental weaknesses, at the same time paying superprofessional homage to the pop-music genre itself. In February, Art Garfunkel hosted the the highly popular NBC Television show Saturday Night Live, with musical guest Paul Simon.

Beginning in March, Art spent the next four months shooting on location in Vienna and London for the Nicolas Roeg film BAD TIMING - A SENSUAL OBSESSION. In May, the animated film WATERSHIP DOWN was released along with the single "Bright Eyes" (see 1976 for background on this song). The song was a great commercial success (#1 in UK for 6 weeks, CBS's first #1 million seller in the UK selling 1.7mm units. It was also #1 in six countries) for both Mike Batt (composer) and Art Garfunkel (performer). The song also helped the film become more widely known. Although the song deals with the elusiveness and mystery of death, it seemed to capture an emotion among a wide audience. BBC NEWS | UK | England | Surrey | Bright Eyes writer's rabbit cull Bright Eyes writer's rabbit cull Mr Batt enjoyed eight hit singles and four gold albums with The Wombles The composer who wrote the famous theme music for Watership Down has ordered a cull of rabbits on his Surrey estate. Mike Batt's land near Farnham was inundated by hundreds of rabbits which nibbled wires and piping.

Mr Batt, who hired a marksman, took advice on the most humane method of control. "It seems that dead rabbits are the story of my life," he said. An RSPCA spokeswoman said that shooting could be a humane method of killing, depending on the skill of the marksman. Mr Batt wrote Art Garfunkel's international number one single Bright Eyes which featured on Watership Down. 'Regretted cull' He also enjoyed success with eight hit singles and four gold albums with The Wombles. Mr Batt, who has lived on the land for 12 years, said: "There was a nice population of rabbits for many years, but a few years ago it seemed to double and double again." He said that, although rabbits had a "lovely cuddly" image, in agricultural terms they were a huge pest and had been "literally everywhere" on his land causing considerable damage. Mr Batt said he had very much regretted having to cull the rabbits and had hired a marksman because shooting was more humane than other methods. He recalled how, as a child, he had see the suffering endured by animals caught in traps, adding "snares are horrible things, I would never put a snare out".

He stressed that, out of hundreds of rabbits, a relatively small number, perhaps 12, had been killed, adding that the rest of the animals seemed to have taken the hint and left his land. 'Crop damage' Natural England said rabbits have established themselves again as "the major vertebrate pest of British agriculture", causing "serious crop damage". A spokesman from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said rabbits might need to be controlled in areas where they caused a problem but it was vital that any control work was carried out in a safe and humane manner. The RSPCA said there was no evidence that shooting a few rabbits would mean the rest moved on, however they might be more wary for a while. Mr Batt is currently director of a management company and record label which has signed Katie Melua, Jem and French first lady Carla Bruni. Bookmark with: Art Garfunkel Official Website 1980-1985 Chronology 1980 Art Garfunkel appeared in his third film, Nicholas Roeg's BAD TIMING - A SENSUAL OBSESSION with Theresa Russell and Harvey Keitel. Art plays Dr.

Alex Linden, an American psychoanalyst and professor at the University of Vienna. The story revolves around the passionate and often hostile relationship between Alex and the seductive Milena Flaherty (Russell). The part would turn out to be Art's most demanding acting project to date. The acting emotions were intensively passionate and required each of the lead actors to stretch beyond anything they had done before. Art Garfunkel's performance as a serious actor again received wide praise by critics. The movie won for Best Film at the Toronto Film Festival. In the Fall, Art Garfunkel recorded background vocals on Stephen Bishop's album RED CAB TO MANHATTAN. In October, Art's favorite baseball team, the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals 4 games to 2, to become the 1980 World Series Champions. During the Fall, Art began recording tracks for SCISSORS CUT, his next album. Art also recorded the Stephen Bishop song, "One Less Holiday," although this tune would not be released until 1993's UP 'TIL NOW.

1981 In August, the concert promoter, Ron Delsner asked Paul Simon if he would be willing to perform a free concert in New York's Central Park Paul was reluctant about the public's response. His recent album ONE-TRICK PONY did not sell well and the film of the same title faded quickly, leaving Paul a bit down. He decided the time was right for a Simon & Garfunkel reunion concert. Paul contacted Art who was traveling in Switzerland and they both agreed to do the show. Approximately 500,000 people attended the performance on September 19th. Apparently, after ten years, the public wanted and perhaps needed S&G together again, even if only for one night. The response from fans as well as the media was overwhelming. It truly was a memorable evening. Both Paul and Art decided to tighten up the show a bit (and tune Richard Tee's piano!) and take the show on the road (U.S., Europe & the Far East) for 19 shows over the next 18 months. In August, Art released his fifth solo album SCISSORS CUT (U.S. #113, U.K. #51).

This album included the Gallagher & Lyle hit "A Heart in New York" (U.S. #61). The U.K. version contains the track "The Romance" rather than "Bright Eyes." The album was co-produced by Roy Halee, who also co-produced the S&G albums, including BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER. Paul Simon makes a brief appearance on "In Cars" performing background vocals. Near the end of the song, Art sings, rather mystically, two lines from "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" ("Remember me to one who lives there, she once was a true love of mine" - a reference to Laurie Bird?) The album is dedicated to Laurie Bird and includes a partial photograph of Ms. Bird on the rear cover. Art was devastated by Ms. Bird's death in Art's New York apartment while he was in Europe filming BAD TIMING - A SENSUAL OBSESSION.

Art was quoted at the time, "Laurie was the greatest thing I ever knew in my life, now I've lost it." In 1988, he added, "I took her death terribly and remained moody over it through much of the 80's." Probably why he did not release another solo album until 1988's LEFTY (excluding 1986's THE ANIMALS' CHRISTMAS with Amy Grant). Having been fascinated by the English language his entire life, Art Garfunkel began to realize that he had a gift, the ability to write prose poems. Art would continue to write throughout the decade and this work would culminate in a collection of prose poems published in 1989 entitled STILL WATER. 1982 In the Spring, the long awaited Simon & Garfunkel - THE CONCERT IN CENTRAL PARK album was released (US #6, UK #6). This was their first album since BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER (1970).

Stephen Holden wrote in ROLLING STONE Magazine, "If The Concert in Central Park is Paul Simon's valentine to the Big Apple, it is Art Garfunkel's voice that really tugs at the heartstrings and sends the message home." In April, to promote the album, Art and Paul announced plans for a world tour (1982-83) in a press conference at the Carlton Tower Hotel in London. Included on the tour: May 28, Offenbach; May 30, Dortmund; June 1, Berlin; June 4, Copenhagen; June 6, Stockholm; June 8& 9, Paris; June 10, Zurich; June 12, Rotterdam; June 15, Dublin; June 19, London. "Mrs. Robinson" became a #1 hit in France, 15 years after its initial release. The album sold so heavily in Europe during the tour that one out of every two Dutch families purchased a copy. In February, HBO broadcasted "Simon and Garfunkel: The Concert in Central Park." It would later be released as a successful selling video.

In the mid-1980's, Art Garfunkel's obsession with long-distance walking began to come into focus, starting with a three and a half-week hike across the rice paddies and back roads of Japan in 1982. In December, Art Garfunkel recorded background vocals on the Crosby, Stills and Nash album DAYLIGHT AGAIN. During the Holiday's, Art sung a small solo piece at a children's concert at St. Mark's Church in Tuxedo Park, N.Y. in a concerto composed by Jimmy Webb. This was a prelude to THE ANIMALS' CHRISTMAS. 1983 During the Spring, Simon & Garfunkel continued their highly-successful European tour. In July and August, they brought the tour back to the U.S. for a series of "stadium" concerts. July 19, Akron; July 20, Pontiac; July 21, Toronto (Canada); July 23, Chicago; July 27, Milwaukee; July 28, Minneapolis; July 29, Pittsburg; July 31 E.

Rutherford; August 3, Foxboro; August 6, New York; August 13, Laurel; August 14, Atlanta; August 17, Houston; August 18, Dallas; August 20, Oakland; August 22, Vancouver (Canada); August 27, Los Angeles; August 28, San Diego; August 30, Boulder. These US dates were in addition to the 19 concerts they performed during their international tour (1981-83). A full segment of ABC's "20/20" was devoted to Simon & Garfunkel in honor of their "Summer Evening Tour." On August 16th, Art Garfunkel attended the wedding of Paul Simon and Carrie Fisher. The ceremony was held in Paul's west side apartment. In December, Art and Susan Webb (Jimmy's sister) perform at the Royal Festival Hall. This show was the British premiere of Jimmy Webb's THE ANIMALS' CHRISTMAS. All profits from the show went to a London children's charity. The concert was later broadcast on British radio on Christmas Day.

Earlier in the month, THE ANIMALS' CHRISTMAS had two performances in New York's St. John the Divine Cathedral. In the December 20th issue of THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, Patricia O'Haire wrote about Art Garfunkel's performance of "The Animals' Christmas" at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. The music they were hearing was composed by Jimmy Webb, who's known for his hit songs "Up, Up and Away," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," and "MacArthur Park." But this time his music is a small, cantata-type piece called "The Animals' Christmas," and it was given two performances Sunday from the alter... to benefit the T.J. Martel Foundation for Leukemia and Cancer Research. Garfunkel, in white tie and tails, stood in the pulpit on the left side of the altar while singing; Susan Skylar, who sang some of the vocals, stood on a raised platform on the right. In between them were a 24-voice children's choir who did the backup vocals, and a full orchestra. The session was recorded live, to be issued some time in the future as an album.

Though two or three of the songs were poems Webb had set to music, and one was a 12th century carol, most of the lyrics and all of the music were Webb originals. The music is unaffected, rather charming; the rhythmic schemes are simple and the story they describe is about the birds, the fish and other members of the animal kingdom - where they were and what they did when Christ child was born in Bethlehem. One of the numbers described how a cat named Phat led Mary and Joseph to a stable, where other animals could keep warm when there was no room at the inn, how the roosters warned the Holy Family that soldiers were coming after King Herod decreed that all firstborn male children were to be killed; how a donkey carried them to Egypt and the wild geese, soaring high above, made an arrow in the sky to point their way. "The Animals' Christmas"... could easily become a classic in schools and churches, since so much of it is tailored for the voices of children. " Art Garfunkel recorded background vocals on the Christopher Cross album ANOTHER PAGE. 1984 Art Garfunkel began his Walk across America.

Starting out from New York, Art will make periodic trips of 100 miles or so, return to New York, and later, go back to where he left off and continue on his odyssey. He will begin to write poetry along the way. In October, Art Garfunkel released a single entitled, "Sometimes When I'm Dreaming," written by Mike Batt (who also composed "Bright Eyes"). In December, THE ART GARFUNKEL ALBUM (UK #12) was released. This was a greatest hits compilation and included the new song, "Sometimes When I'm Dreaming." Surprisingly, neither the single or the greatest hits album were released in the United States. It would not be until 1988 when Columbia released a less than complete greatest hits compilation entitled GARFUNKEL. 1985> Art Garfunkel accompanied by good friend Jimmy Webb, travel to Tahiti and sail the Polynesian Islands in the South Pacific. Art filmed his part as a reporter in Washington, D.C. for the movie GOOD TO GO (a.k.a. SHORT FUSE). Art continued to record vocals for the upcoming album THE ANIMALS' CHRISTMAS in London at St.

Paul's Cathedral, at the Air Studios in the British West Indies, and with Amy Grant in Nashville, Tennessee. In the Fall, Art met the future Mrs. Garfunkel, Kathryn (Kim) Cermak.

Question: Who wrote the Art Garfunkel number one hit 'Bright Eyes'?
Answer: MIKE BATT